10 of the world's most powerful passports

One of the hallmarks of a world traveler is a well-worn passport, and it is estimated that more than 160 million passports are currently in circulation. But not every passport is created equal.

The strength of the world's passports is measured by the International Air Transport Association in its annual Henley Passport Index, which measures "visa-free access to 227 destinations across the world," CNBC said. Henley also factors in "mobility data" based on national GDPs and the percentage of global wealth each passport could provide access to. Data shows that international travel is getting easier — Henley estimates that the average number of global destinations a passport holder can access is 111.

These are 10 of the world's most powerful passports, according to Henley's October 2025 ranking. This also marks the first time that the U.S. has not been in the top 10.

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1. Singapore

Singapore has claimed the top spot on the Henley Index as the world's most powerful passport, with a Singaporean passport also allowing visa-free travel to 19 of 227 destinations, putting it squarely on the top of the Henley Index as the world's most influential travel document. Many citizens of Singapore take advantage of these optics, with more than 2.8 million Singaporean passports in circulation, according to market research company Thales Group. However, Thales also noted that the passport's ease of access also makes it a prime target for counterfeiters, though international groups have implemented biometric features to hinder this.

2. South Korea

If you have a South Korean passport, you can get almost anywhere, as it allows visa-free access to 190 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. And people in the country are taking advantage — approximately 60% of Koreans have a passport, according to South Korean newspaper The Chosun Daily. The Korean passport has been steadily rising up the rankings in recent years; this is a stark contrast from their neighbors to the north, where citizens cannot travel freely, doing so "only with the necessary permission," said Rocky Road Travel.

3. Japan

Japan saw a significant fall from grace in Henley's 2023 rankings, after having topped the list of the world's most powerful passports at the beginning of the year. However, the country has rebounded in a big way over the last two years, and a Japanese passport is now tied for third place, providing visa-free access to 189 of 227 destinations. Nearly 85% of the entire world accepts Japan's passports without a visa, meaning most countries are easily accessible to the Japanese. This is despite the fact that most Japanese people don't do that much traveling. Currently, only 17% of Japanese citizens have passports, according to the country's foreign ministry.

4. Germany

Many European passports provide large-scale travel access, and Germany is no exception. The country is tied as the fourth-most powerful passport in the world, shooting up the rankings by allowing visa-free access to 188 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. German nationals are also automatically citizens of the European Union, and those who want to stick around Europe have even more movement rights granted to them by Article 21 of the EU Treaty. This clause states that EU citizens "shall have the right to move and reside freely within the territory of the member states," allowing Germans to work and live in any EU nation they choose. Most of the other European countries on this list fall under similar provisions.

5. Italy

An Italian passport provides the holder with widespread acceptance to other countries, and similar to Germany, allows visa-free access to 188 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. Given that Italy, as with Germany, provides free movement under Article 21, Italian passports remain "one of the most desirable passports in the world," said VisaIndex.com. Beyond this, the Italian passport also allows citizens to "benefit from high-quality, low-cost universal health care and access Italy's education system," said the Italian Citizenship Assistance. Additionally, the Italian passport is noted for its ease with which those of Italian heritage can become dual citizens.

6. Luxembourg

Despite being one of the world's smallest countries, Luxembourg's passport remains powerful — no doubt due to the country's extreme wealth. A passport from Luxembourg provides visa-free travel to 188 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. The passport is so well-regarded that even China announced that it would extend visa-free entry to Luxembourgish citizens, as well as a slew of other European countries. This is despite the fact that "China and the EU have been at odds over several issues, including the war in Ukraine and economic dispute," said Politico.

7. Spain

Like its German and Italian counterparts, a Spanish passport has also gotten significantly more powerful, allowing visa-free access to 188 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. An EU member state, Spain also allows its citizens to move freely under Article 21 provisions, and they are able to work and live throughout Europe. Like most European documents, a Spanish passport remains highly desirable, and up to 75 million Americans may be eligible for Spanish citizenship due to their ancestral heritage, management brand Global Capitalist said. This privilege "also extends to Filipinos, Portuguese and Sephardic Jews," the report added, though as with France, questions remain as to whether or not the EES system could cause undue delays.

8. Switzerland

Like Luxembourg, the Swiss are known for their monumental wealth, which has helped continually boost the country's standing. A passport bearing the Swiss cross allows visa-free access to 188 of 227 destinations, according to the Henley Index. Swiss passports are also known for their significant biosecurity features; they "contain a chip on which your fingerprints and an image of your face are stored electronically," said the Swiss Embassy in Washington, D.C. However, expats must also "reside in Switzerland for at least 10 years" before they can apply for a passport, said Swiss law firm Goldblum and Partners.

9. Ireland

Ireland is one of the world's most popular tourist destinations; the country's travel bureau reported an estimated 11.3 million overseas visitors in 2019. However, as much as visitors travel to the Emerald Isle, many Irish people go abroad, and the country's passport reflects this. An Irish passport provides visa-free travel to 187 of 227 destinations, the Henley Index reported. The number of Irish people applying for the documents is also rising. In 2022, the Irish Department of Foreign Affairs recorded just over 1 million yearly passport requests, "which sets a new annual record for the Irish Passport Service." This trend continued in 2023, with 1 million passport requests and at least 950,000 new passports issued. And in 2024, Ireland reached the milestone of issuing 1 million passports annually.

10. New Zealand

A passport from the Kiwis offers visa-free travel to 186 of 227 destinations, making it a strong contender on the Henley Index. Beyond the passport itself, New Zealand has also taken steps to make international travel easier for its citizens. Kiwis can "apply for a New Zealand passport from nearly anywhere in the world because New Zealand offers an end-to-end online passport service, one of the first countries in the world to do so," said Stuff, a New Zealand-based news site. New Zealand's passports are also biometric, meaning they keep the person's identity "stored securely in a chip."